Japan’s imports surged 27.8% year-on-year to a fresh record of JPY 12,146.3 billion in July 2026, accelerating from a 25.4% increase in June, exceeding market expectations of 26.5% and marking the strongest growth since November 2022. The increase was supported by resilient domestic demand, boosted by the government’s late-2025 stimulus measures, as well as higher crude oil prices. Imports rose from China (26.2%), Hong Kong (10.6%), Taiwan (65.9%), South Korea (28.8%), the U.S. (58.0%), ASEAN (30.9%) and the Middle East (11.9%), while purchases from the EU declined (-2.3%). By category, imports increased across all major components, led by electrical machinery (41.3%) amid strong semiconductor demand, followed by manufactured goods (31.2%), machinery (22.4%), chemicals (19.7%), transport equipment (13.5%) and other goods (5.1%). Meanwhile, crude oil imports soared 87.8% as Japan sought alternative supply routes to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing Middle East tensions. source: Ministry of Finance, Japan

Imports YoY in Japan increased to 27.80 percent in July from 25.40 percent in June of 2026. Imports YoY in Japan averaged 8.21 percent from 1964 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 106.50 percent in February of 1974 and a record low of -42.70 percent in February of 2009. This page includes a chart with historical data for Japan Imports YoY. Japan Imports YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on August of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-07-21 11:50 PM
Imports YoY
Jun 25.4% 12.5% 21%
2026-08-19 11:50 PM
Imports YoY
Jul 27.8% 25.4% 26.5%
2026-09-15 11:50 PM
Imports YoY
Aug 27.8%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -634.50 -409.90 JPY Billion Jul 2026
Capital Flows 5028.00 50710.00 JPY Hundred Million Jun 2026
Current Account -923.00 3968.30 JPY Billion Jun 2026
Exports 11511.80 10926.54 JPY Billion Jul 2026
Exports YoY 23.20 19.30 percent Jul 2026
External Debt 761469.80 728706.20 JPY Billion Mar 2026
Net Foreign Direct Investment 15696.00 32343.00 JPY Hundred Million Jun 2026
Imports 12146.30 11336.46 JPY Billion Jul 2026
Imports YoY 27.80 25.40 percent Jul 2026


Japan Imports YoY
Japan's main imports are mineral fuels (22 percent of total imports), with petroleum accounting for 10 percent and LNG for 6 percent; electrical machinery (15 percent) on the back of telephony, telegraphy and semiconductors; chemicals (10 percent) due to medical products and organic chemicals; machinery (10 percent) in particular computers and units; foodstuff (9 percent) such as fish and fish preparations and meat and meat preparations; manufactured goods (9 percent) on nonferrous metals; and raw materials (6 percent) mainly ore of nonferrous and iron ore and concentrates. Japan's main import partners were China (23 percent), the EU (12 percent) in particular Germany (3 percent), the US (11 percent), Australia (6 percent), South Korea (4 percent), Saudi Arabia (4 percent), Taiwan (4 percent), the UAE (4 percent) and Thailand (4 percent).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
27.80 25.40 106.50 -42.70 1964 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Japan Imports Hit Record High
Japan’s imports surged 27.8% year-on-year to a fresh record of JPY 12,146.3 billion in July 2026, accelerating from a 25.4% increase in June, exceeding market expectations of 26.5% and marking the strongest growth since November 2022. The increase was supported by resilient domestic demand, boosted by the government’s late-2025 stimulus measures, as well as higher crude oil prices. Imports rose from China (26.2%), Hong Kong (10.6%), Taiwan (65.9%), South Korea (28.8%), the U.S. (58.0%), ASEAN (30.9%) and the Middle East (11.9%), while purchases from the EU declined (-2.3%). By category, imports increased across all major components, led by electrical machinery (41.3%) amid strong semiconductor demand, followed by manufactured goods (31.2%), machinery (22.4%), chemicals (19.7%), transport equipment (13.5%) and other goods (5.1%). Meanwhile, crude oil imports soared 87.8% as Japan sought alternative supply routes to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing Middle East tensions.
2026-08-20
Japan Imports Notch Record High
Japan's imports surged 25.4% year-on-year to a record JPY 11,335.9 billion in June 2026, significantly accelerating from May's 12.5% increase. The latest result exceeded market forecasts of a 21.0% rise, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth in purchases and the strongest expansion since November 2022. The sharp increase reflected resilient domestic demand, boosted by the government's late-2025 stimulus measures. Imports rose from China (29.4%), Hong Kong (20.9%), Taiwan (49.1%), South Korea (32.2%), the U.S. (52.7%), ASEAN countries (25.5%), and the EU (1.6%), while purchases from the Middle East declined 3.9%. By category, imports increased for electrical machinery (32.1%), driven by semiconductor demand, machinery (19.7%), manufactured goods (34.3%), chemicals (25.4%), transport equipment (12.5%), and other goods (20.3%). Meanwhile, crude oil imports soared 59.3% as Japan diversified energy procurement away from the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional tensions.
2026-07-22
Japan Imports Rise Robustly
Japan’s imports rose 12.5% yoy to JPY 9,890.2 billion in May 2026, accelerating from April’s 9.8% gain but falling short of market expectations of 12.8%. It was the fourth straight month of growth and the strongest pace since January 2025, boosted by strong domestic demand following the government’s late-2025 stimulus measures. Imports grew from China (13.7%), the U.S. (26.0%), Taiwan (43.2%), South Korea (26.0%), ASEAN (28.3%), and the EU (4.7%), while purchases fell from Hong Kong (-3.0%) and the Middle East (-42.7%). Imports rose for electrical machinery (31.5%), led by chips, machinery (20.4%), manufactured goods (13.6%), chemicals (14.9%), transport equipment (9.9%), and other goods (6.5%). In contrast, crude oil imports plunged 28.5% as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid Middle East conflict disrupted shipments. Looking ahead, a weaker yen could fuel imported inflation, eroding household purchasing power and raising costs for businesses reliant on imported inputs.
2026-06-17


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